Every summer, Tomorrowland drawshundreds of thousands of visitors to Boom, Belgium, for one of the world'sbiggest electronic music festivals. Alongside the music and the spectacle,there is a less glamorous statistic: every year dozens are arrested onsuspicion of drug dealing. Many more are stopped for possession.

For festival-goers — Belgian andinternational alike — an arrest at Tomorrowland can be a frightening anddisorienting experience, especially if it happens far from home and in anunfamiliar legal system. This post explains what to expect, and why getting theright legal help early matters.

The police and Prosecutor's Office take this seriously

Make no mistake: the police and the Public Prosecutor's Office treat drug-related offences at Tomorrowland as a genuine priority, not a minor festival infraction. Extra police capacity, drug-detection dogs, and dedicated prosecutorial teams are deployed specifically for the event. Anyone caught in possession of drugs, and especially anyone suspected of dealing, can expect to be actively investigated and prosecuted — even for what might seem like a small quantity.

What happens after an arrest

If you are arrested at or around thefestival, you may be:

• Invited for police questioning (verhoor/interrogation), either on the spot or shortly afterward;     and/or
• Summoned to appear before the criminal court in Antwerp (dagvaarding), since Tomorrowland falls     under the jurisdiction of the Antwerp judicial district.  

These are not steps to take lightly.What you say during a police interview can significantly affect the outcome ofyour case, and a court summons means formal criminal proceedings are alreadyunderway.

Why proper legal assistance matters

Belgian criminal procedure has its own rules, deadlines, and terminology, and the consequences of a drug conviction — a criminal record, fines, or worse — can follow you well beyond the festival weekend, including affecting travel and employment in your homecountry. Having a lawyer involved from the moment of arrest, rather than only once a case has progressed, makes a real difference in how a case can bemanaged and defended.

Our firm has extensive experiencehandling drug-related cases arising from Tomorrowland and similar events. We understand how the Antwerp Public Prosecutor's Office approaches these files, we know the local court procedures, and we are used to guiding clients through every stage — from the initial police interrogation through to a court hearing, if it comes to that.

Because so many of those arrestedare international visitors, we work fluently in English, so you can discuss your situation and understand your rights without a language barrieradding to the stress of the situation.

Possession for personal use vs. dealing: a crucial distinction

One of the most important issues inany drug case is the distinction between:

• Possession for personal use     — generally treated less severely, though still an offence, and
• Sale or supply of drugs (dealing) — treated far more seriously, with significantly higher penalties.

The line between the two is not always determined by the substance alone. Factors such as the quantity found, how the drugs were packaged, whether cash or scales were involved, and statements made during questioning can all influence how the prosecution characterizes the case. This is precisely why early legal advice matters: the wrong statementto police, made without understanding its implications, can shift a case from "personal use" toward "dealing" in the eyes of the prosecution.

If you've been arrested or summoned

If you or someone you know has been arrested at Tomorrowland, invited for questioning, or received a summons to appear before the Antwerp court, don't wait to seek advice. Contact us as soon as possible — we can guide you through the process, help protect your rights, and work toward the best possible outcome for your case.

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